Vegas Sports Masters

THE BASEBALL NOTEBOOK -AMERICA'S PASTIME HAS CENTER STAGEALL TO ITSELF THESE DAYS ...

NBA ODDS TO WIN IT ALL, 2018-19 SEASON ...

NFL QUICK-HITTER ITEMS:CAN WE EXPECT SOME BIG DEALS?

Hey, Major-League Baseball ... it's your ball game!

The NBA Playoffs are in the rear-view mirror - happy, happy, joy-joy for the Golden State Warriors and their three championships the past four years - and the NHL's Stanley Cup is the property of the wild-partying Washington Capitals ... and horse racing has its second Triple Crown winner in the past four years with a super-duper pony named Justify.

So, MLB has the country's undivided sports attention until further notice and who knew that with fewer than 100 games remaining for most of the teams out there that it would take till game # 61 for the New York Yankees (42-19) to get blanked for the very first time this year. The Yanks were 2-0 losers at Citi Field on Sunday night - yes, Aaron Boone's crew still won two-of-three in that NY/NY series - and at the close of the weekend the Yankees were one of seven MLB teams with 300+ runs scored so far:

No question about it: The Atlanta Braves are the single-biggest surprise team on this 300+ runs chart - they're averaging a hearty 4.95 runs scored per game and there's already four players with 30-or-more runs scored so far including team leader 2B Ozzie Albies (51 runs scored) - but ask us and we're surprised one team not on this 300+ runs scored list is the Colorado Rockies (288 runs scored) and did you know this National League West team right now has only one player with more than 40 runs scored (OF Charlie Blackmon has scored 50 times)? Hey, if the Rocks don't win a playoff berth this year, they might want to dole out some blame on an offense that ranks seventh in team batting average and 5th in runs scored.

Jim Hurley and his Network of Handicappers and Bloggers are winning big with Major League Baseball action every day. So, make sure you cash in big right here online or 1-800-323-4453. Pile up the profits as we head towards another great NCAA Football / NFL season straight ahead!

THE NBA NOTEBOOK

Okay, so it's time we lay it on 'ya in terms of the NBA Odds to Win it All in the 2018-19 season - and, granted, nobody knows where LeBron James is gonna call home next season. Note that all prices are based on $100 per play wagers:

TEAM

ODDS

COMMENT

Golden State

+ 120

When/if the Warriors make it 4 titles in 5 years, then we'll really think dynasty

Houston

+ 350

The Rockets are hoping/praying that Chris Paul doesn't leave and James signs on

Philadelphia

+ 350

Are the 76ers really about ready to make that next great leap? We have our doubts

Boston

+ 700

Celtics showed the sum of the parts can work out pretty well, now add Irving and Hayward

Los Angeles Lakers

+1200

Young Lakers can be instant contenders by adding either James or Paul this summer

San Antonio

+ 3000

Sure feels as if the "window" for any more Spur titles already has closed

Toronto

+ 5000

Still waiting to see if they "break up the Raptors" after coach Dwane Casey was axed

Cleveland

+ 5000

Okay, so this pretty much tells you the "wise guys" think The King is bye-bye

Miami

+ 5000

Never - ever - count out a Pat Riley team when it comes to turning things around

Utah

+ 6000

Love the team's defense and effort but not enough pop to win it all

Oklahoma City

+ 6000

Please don't tell us the Thunder's gonna head into a new season with Carmelo Anthony!

THE NFL REPORT

Okay, so one of the sports-related web sites we generally check out had a listing of 10 players that could/will get traded here in the weeks leading up to NFL Training Camps and have to agree that the likes of New York Giants RT Ereck Flowers, Tampa Bay WR DeSean Jackson, Miami LB Kiko Alonso and Seattle S Earl Thomas each/all could be dealt in the coming weeks ... now let's explain where their destination makes the most senses:

Flowers was the Giants' first-round pick in the 2015 NFL Draft - he was selected ninth overall - and make no mistake that this NFC East team never intended to grab the former Miami Hurricane in the first place: The Jints back then wanted OT/G Brandon Scherff from Iowa but he was snapped up with the fifth overall pick by the Washington Redskins - yes, a double-whammy for then-NYG general manager Jerry Reese - and so the Giants' "panicked" and grabbed Flowers and he's been a major bust. Now, New York's gonna have to swallow some salary (and some pride) and deal Flowers sooner rather than later and we believe he's headed to either the Oakland Raiders or the Los Angeles Chargers.

There's lots of cap-related reasons for Washington to deal away WR Jackson this June plus toss into the mix the fact the 'Skins really want to get more snaps for 2017 draftee Chris Goodwin. Last year Jackson nabbed 50 balls for 668 yards and 3 TDs - he barely was valued inside the top 50 wide outs in the league - and we see this former speed-burner also heading West with either Oakland or the Los Angeles Rams in his immediate future ... we keep hearing old/new Raiders' boss Jon Gruden loves 'em.

If the Miami Dolphins indeed wish to "change the culture" of this floundering franchise (see two playoff appearances in the past 10 years - and zero playoff wins during this time) then riding themselves of this overrated 'backer is essential as Pro Football Focus is said to have ranked Alonso 83rd among 90 NFL linebackers ... egads! There are some teams that believe a veteran/hard-hitting linebacker might be a missing puzzle piece and so expect the Chicago Bears and the Dallas Cowboys to show some interest but they won't be offering much in return.

Ahh, here's the real gem in the trade wars as the Seattle Seahawks are slowly-but-surely tearing down the so-called "Legion of Doom" but they're not looking to give away S Thomas who's a perennial all-pro. Believe it or not, the Seahawks might already have grown tired of the Dallas Cowboys' offer of a third-round pick next year in return and so instead look for either the Baltimore Ravens or the Houston Texans to get in on the bidding for this cerebral deep back.

THE DOLLAR$ OF AUGUSTJOIN ME FOR THE PRE-SEASON, USE THESE GAMES TO DOUBLE YOUR BANKROLLTHEN AT LEAST DOUBLE YOUR ENTIRE SEASON'S PROFITS

Starts With The Hall of Fame Game Thursday, August 2 with the Ravens vs. the BearsLast season 19-6, and won the Preseason Game of the Year with Saints (+3.5) over Chargers 13-7

NOTE: Catch all the Major-League Baseball news/notes in the next edition of Jim Sez and don't forget we'll continue to dig into all the key NFL news items from here through training camps, so don't dare miss out!